Best of Ski Canada
ByAndrew Evans
December 23, 2011
2 min readTwo full weeks of world-class skiing may have spoiled me rotten, but I’m still enough of a discerning traveler to have picked my favorites. Bear in mind, Canada is a huge place and my ski tracks only dilly-dallied across a tiny corner of it, but for what it’s worth, here’s what I liked best:
Skiing
- Best snow: Fernie
- Best view: Lake Louise (Banff National Park)
- Coldest day: Lake Louise ( – 18°C )
- Warmest day: Whistler (+4°C)
- Longest continuous runs: Peak2Creek (Whistler) and Banff Avenue (Sunshine Village)
- Most insane vertical: Delirium Dive (Sunshine Village) and The Couloir (Whistler)
- Favorite ski runs:
Sun Peaks: Mid-Life Crisis
Sunshine Village: Tincan Alley
Lake Louise: Wiwaxy, Home Run
Fernie: Currie Bowl, Polar Peak
Whistler: Highway 86; Harmony Ridge
Blackcomb: Blackcomb Glacier
Equipment
- Best Ski Shop: Jardine’s, Sun Peaks Resort
- Favorite skis: Salomon Enduro RX 800
- Favorite ski boots: Salomon Impact 100 CS
- Favorite chairlift: Sunburst Express, Sun Peaks Resort
- Best gloves for tweeting whilst skiing: OR fleece fingerless glove/mitten combo
Wintersports
- Most peaceful: Snowshoeing, Lake Louise
- Most romantic: moonlit, horse-drawn sleigh ride, Lake Louise
- Most fun: dogsledding
- Biggest adrenalin rush: Skeleton Slide, Whistler Sliding Centre
Après-Ski
- Craziest bar scene: The Griz Bar, Fernie
- Most likely to run into celebrity snowboarder at: GLC, Whistler
- Best hot tub: Sunshine Mountain Lodge, Banff
- Best spa treatment: hot stone massage, Sun Peaks Spa
Eating & Drinking
- Best hot chocolate: Gold Lounge, Fairmont Chateau, Whistler
- Best fondue: Walliser Stube, The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
- Best s’mores, Globe Cafe, Sun Peaks
- Best sushi: Sushi Village, Whistler
- Best cocktails: Alta Bistro, Whistler
- Best wine cellar: Bearfoot Bistro
- Best chocolate: The Beanpod, Fernie
- Best restaurant: Araxi, Whistler
Thanks again to the many friends who helped me on my journey through Alberta and British Columbia! I had such an amazing time and will never forget you or your mountains!
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